Patricia Corn
Bio
I’ve lived in Lake City, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Atlanta, and Arlington. I work in Broadcast News, but I want to be a professional writer.
Stories (12)
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Stained Glass and Cabin Bells
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The candle was settled inside a large glass cylinder propped on a table next to a large stain-glass window. The windowsill was an inch above the table and the window frame extended almost to the ceiling of the cabin. The glow of the light illuminated the green cloak of Saint Agnes. The thin gold ring of a halo sparkled brilliantly in the dim light and the creamy face appeared more serene and radiant.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Horror
Dad to the Rescue
I was never really close with my father. I always thought he favored my older sister. Growing up, I would catch him staring at me with confused fascination. It was almost like he was baffled by everything I did, like I was some sort of puzzle to figure out. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized the importance of our time together.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Families
Summer Southern Cuisine
Food is no joke when you’re from the south. When someone asks you what’s your favorite summer food, you inevitably must explain the seriousness of the question. After all, people have been shot over less. Family members have been disowned for selecting the wrong fast food chicken sandwich. Food is synonymous with culture and one bite is instant nostalgia. Maybe in the 7th grade, you’d just garner a simple response of “pizza” or “hamburger”. As an adult, where there is a chance of potluck and barbecue invites, the answer requires thought. It’s a discussion. You must break it down. Make sure everyone agrees on all potential criteria. You have to make groups and battle them out on a bracket sheet. What is considered a summer food to one person, might not be to another person. Then, there is geography to factor in. A lobster roll in Boston may be all the rage, but in Texas, it’s the chili that may win the day. Sushi in Seattle may be the obvious choice, but New York slides in with pizza and fuhgeddaboudit. Each part of the U.S. has its hotdog style. How could you possibly choose one favorite summer food? In the southeast, there are five foods that every southern craves during the summer. Each one connects me to a special person in my life and conjures memories of the past.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Feast
Death under the Owl Branch
The large stuffed barn owl sat fixed against the severed tree branch, which hung over the fireplace. Three iron nails secured the decorative piece over the stone hearth for forty years. The owl’s massive wings stretched out on either side, almost concealing the entire branch. Deep brown and white speckled feathers fanned out, frozen in mid-flight. Large talons reaching out to grasp an invisible prey. Little had changed over the years, not a flick of a feather or twinge of a limb. The owl remained caught forever in a moment of determination, while its prey vanished out of sight and into the unknown.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Fiction
Haunted pool
“ I don’t really believe in ghosts,” Charlotte said as she munched on some popcorn. “More people die in car accidents than at home, but you never here about haunted cars.” Charlotte was seventeen and visiting her cousin in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her cousin, Cheryl, and her sister, Tonya, joined her on the deck while her Uncle Tony man the BBQ. The girls sat in the sunshine and discussed plans for scary movies later that night.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Fiction
Spooky Halloween Party Playlist
Best Halloween Party Music The important thing to remember when choosing music for a Halloween party is not to get to lost in your choices. One song can easily lead to another similar song, then another, and next thing you know, you have played nine movie/tv theme songs in a row. You want to vary it up. Appeal to different types of people, and there can be no doubt that each song belongs on a Halloween playlist. There are several songs that may have a creepy musical cord transition or haunting lyrics, but there are only a few songs that really connect with Halloween. Sting’s “Murder by Numbers” and “Every Breath You Take” have interesting lyrics, but I don’t really don’t associate them with Halloween. There are songs that mention Halloween Icons, but still don’t belong on a Halloween party list. I wouldn’t play “Voodoo Child” or “Witch Doctor” even though they are great songs, because they really don’t scream Halloween to me. I also associate several instrumental pieces of music that I do connect to Halloween, but i would not play at a party. I think of Hannibal Lecter, when I hear “Aria da Capo” but I wouldn’t be confident that others would make the same connection. When I hear the theme of Jaws, I think of Jaws and not Halloween. Neither of these songs belong at a dance party. For my Halloween Playlist, every song needs to be undeniably appropriate for the festivities.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Horror
Choose Wisely, This Job Isn’t For Everyone.
I am a Photojournalist and a Technical Director. I spent the last 15 years working in Broadcast News. I have worked at four different news stations in the southeast. I find when people ask me about my work, I don’t have to explain the importance of my job. Instead, I have to correct various misconceptions about working for the press, and the television industry.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Journal
Beware the Trees, They Move!
Looking back, it feels odd that such a terrible event happened on such a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly across a brilliant blue sky. There wasn’t a cloud to be found. The pool water was so clear and clean, it was practically begging you for a refreshing swim. It was high contrast to the murky green pond, a mere fifty yards away. It was early in the day, around 9:30. The heat was just starting to crank up, and the ground was still soggy from the sprinklers predawn rinse.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Fiction
The Glass Room in Rosslyn Pond
A brilliant yellow spark soared over the frozen pond, then bursted into a thousand bright lights. The glassy surface reflected each light, despite the distance of the fireworks in the sky. It was the best spot to watch the display. The view afforded quite a bargain, for each firework was doubled in the darkness. If one ignored the bare trees and snow along the embankments, then the pond disappeared completely. Anyone gliding on the surface would appear to be suspended in midair, with the starry sky above their head and below their feet.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Fiction
Drinks Over Gatsby
The piano was beautiful from fifteen feet away. It stood in the corner, gleaming even in the dim restaurant lighting. I tossed back my drink, set the empty glass on the bar, and walked over to the stunning instrument. I’d waited all night and finally the paid player had abandoned the piano for a smoke break. It was my chance. Something bold and daring, that I had wanted to do for so long.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Fiction
Bull Leaping
“There is no feeling like it,” she heard her father’s words echoing in her head. “There is no feeling that is more thrilling. Your heart will pound and feel as though it is about to leap out of your throat. Your mind will narrow and focus, so that you’ll be able to see the smallest detail. You will never feel more in control of every muscle and limb of your body, then when you take your first leap”
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Fiction
One Last Shark Dive
“No way!” Peyton exclaimed as she pushed herself towards the large bin of used books. She had been aimlessly weaving in-between the large folding tables, that were littered with paperback books, for about half an hour. She was in no rush, knowing full well, that her father was probably still asleep back at the hospice center. She began her search, hoping to find some old magazines or a picture book for children, but had stumbled upon a priceless treasure. She had almost given up, but the dull blue-green matte cover with just a small bit of a shark’s tail fin, had caught her eye. She turned back and rushed over to it. Most of the book had been obscured by another larger glossy travel book for the country of England. She pushed the larger book aside and snatched up the smaller book peeking out from behind. Sure enough, the dingy white letters over the worn cover spelled out the title, Shark Reef Adventure. The underwater scene on the cover was something out of the 1950s. It featured a young male wearing a diving mask and swim trunks. His face was turned away, as if he had suddenly noticed the dangerous gray shark behind him. The image was all she needed to send her spiraling back in time, to when she was four years old.
By Patricia Corn4 years ago in Families
